This time around, I think Kazuki was angry with me. I didn't care either way. Whenever I wasn't catching up on my sleep, out with Jun or checking in with Tai, I found myself playing poker. Aya seemed to be the best out of all of us, often cleaning all of us out, even Jun. Jun hated loosing and would sit and play against Aya for hours on end. Once, we left them playing as we went to get some take out. Two hours later, we came back and they were in the same place we left them in. The game often moved around from apartment to apartment or we played in the Kabuki-Cho, Mizui often giving us permission to play at his house. I found myself liking these poker games and even though I sat silently and barely spoke much less laughed, I enjoyed seeing everyone else interact with each other outside of a work atmosphere. I saw Aoki, though he seemed to be hard, silent and deadly to be around, his reputation following him all through his life, fatherhood doing nothing to phase him,was actually very affectionate and loving to Aya. They loved each other, there was no denying that. Aya seemed just as in love though he teased and flirted with Jo every now and then. Jo, who was gathering the same rep for being nothing but a clone of his father was still a child. He whined and fussed when Akio teased him and he stuck his tongue out at Toki when they argued. Jun who had his troubles with Toki in the past, was dealing with him rather well nowadays. They didn't argue...much but at least now they could stay in the same room together without fighting. I started to see something of the past friendship before Jun became a yakuza. Akio was his usual self, still admiring his over all good looks, playing with his hair when he couldn't think and flirting with Jo. I think he had it bad for Baby since he always talked to him when he wasn't talking to Aoki or Toki. But it was just my guess. Then there was Toki himself who was always himself no matter what the atmosphere. He laughed, drank, smoked and talked with everyone. He never changed. There was no mask hiding who he was. I guess in a way, it's what attracted me to him. He didn't hide who he was. I recalled how he was angry with me once because I was ashamed of him, because I wouldn't, couldn't tell anyone that I was seeing him. Yet he could tell the world. I looked down at my cards as I changed one. Aoki was the dealer, cigarette in his fingers as Jun said,

"Anyone else bored?"

"I am." Said Akio.

"Down time sucks." Said Jo.

They laughed slightly as Toki said,

"Fuck that, I love down time. I get to sleep, drink and fuck all day and night."

"Isn't that your usual life style no matter what?" Asked Aya.

Everyone laughed as Toki said,

"Nah man, I don't get enough sleep. Is why I'm always tired."

"You fall asleep anywhere." Said Akio.

"Not anywhere."

"Anywhere." They all said.

Toki laughed slightly as he tapped his cigarette against the ashtray. We sat in Mizui's place for one of our games. Mizui had accommodated for us, giving us an off limits, private room, cards and poker chips all ready waiting for us though we were use to playing for real money, girls coming in and out with sake and food. We would sit there for hours, just playing cards. Jun then said,

"Down time is nice for like a week. After that I go stir crazy."

"I need to do something." Said Aya.

"Aint you doin Aoki already?" Asked Toki.

Akio laughed as Aya put his head on Aoki's shoulder and said,

"I meant something else."

Jo tucked his hair behind his ear and said,

"If we had down time, we could at least have it in New York."

"Why New York Baby?" Asked Akio.

"Cuz that way he could see his play thing." Said Toki.

Jo glared at him as Akio said,

"You still seein the same one?"

"Different one."

Akio nodded as Toki looked at his cards with a smirk.

As we finished up for the night, Jun and I got up, getting our coats on as Jun said,

"It's been fun, but I do need to sleep every now and then."

Akio laughed, putting out his cigarette as he said,

"Damn Jun it's only..."

He checked his watch as he said,

"Three in the morning."

"I know but I didn't sleep much yesterday."

Jun then waved to everyone as Jo said to me,

"You tired too?"

"Not really, but I would like to get home. I'm bored."

They encouraged us to stay a little longer, Jun saying no and eventually leaving. I sat back down for another game. By four, I yawned as Jo could hardly keep his eyes open. Aya saw Jo as he said,

"I think we're done for tonight."

Akio looked at his partner as he said,

"Yup. Let's go."

Toki put out his last cigarette as he said,

"Aite...where's Mizui at?"

He got up and went to look for him as Aoki finished the last of his drink and began getting up, getting his coat on as Aya did the same. Akio woke Jo up as they got up as well. We walked out of the room as Mizui and Toki talked for a moment. Once they saw us, Toki said good night to him and joined us. We walked out from Mizui's place as we began going home. The last trains had left already and there were no cabs this time of night. As I began walking home, Toki put his arm around me, startling me as I said,

"Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"You scared me. I was about to punch you."

He laughed as he said,

"Sorry Ghosto. So, goin home?"

"Yes. Where else would I go at this hour?"

"I dunno. How's things with you an the Fox?"

"Not well."

"Why?"

"I don't know. He's mad at me for some reason or another."

"You talk to him?"

"No. And why do you care?"

"I don't. I jus don't want you unhappy."

"I'm not unhappy."

I paused for a moment, making him stop as I hugged him. He hugged me back as he said,

"I can go to your place for the night."

"Wouldn't Jia be upset?"

"Nah...he knows sometimes I get wasted when I play poker."

"You don't have to."

"I know. But I wanna."

I hugged him for a while, getting lost in the feeling of having him in my arms until I moved back and agreed.

We slept next to each other rather then us having sex. It was a nice change. I still slept in his arms, my head on his bare chest, since he only wore jeans to bed. I laid in my pajamas, his hand under my shirt and on my bare back, his other hand holding mine as he laid on his back. I woke up the next late afternoon, him still sleeping, his head turned towards me as I sighed slightly. I put my head back down, staying in my comfortable place. This was nice...this was pleasant. Down time, as boring as it maybe sometimes, was worth it for moments like this. They're so fleeting. Toki turned at one point, the hand that was holding mine, moving as he put both arms around me. I moved off him so he could move as he turned to his side, keeping me close to him as I looked at him. I moved my hair out of the way when my cell phone rang. He sat up suddenly, looking around and then fell back down, turning his head towards the pillow as he said,

"Get the phone."

I turned and picked up my phone as I answered.

"Hai."

"Come to your door."

"Kazuki?"

"Yeah, I'm coming upstairs."

"What for?"

"We should talk."

He hung up as I looked back at Toki and saw him looking back.

"He comin?"

I nodded as he said,

"Okay...I'll stay here."

I got out of bed, pulling up my hair as I got my bathrobe on and went to answer the door once I heard it. I closed my bedroom door behind me as I went to the front door and opened it as I saw Kazuki. I invited him in as I said,

"What?"

"I should ask you that."

He took off his shoes as he kept his coat on and said,

"For the past couple of days, I've been thinking."

I nodded as I closed the door behind me and then crossed my arms.

"I was thinking about how you've been acting since you got back."

"Uh huh."

"And I was thinking...something probably happened."

"What makes you think that?"

"You're different somehow. You weren't like this."

"How would you know? I'm always like this."

"No, you're not. I don't know you that well, but I know subtle little changes in your ways."

I sighed, dismissing him as I went to the kitchen as he came in after me and said,

"Can I ask you something?"

"Ask whatever you want."

"Did you really miss me when you were in Hong Kong?"

"What a stupid question. In case you forgot, I was working when I was there. It's not like I was sitting there, watching the sun come up on Victoria's Point everyday. Yes, I thought of you when I wasn't doing anything, which was rare."

He was quiet as I turned back and began making some tea. I set the kettle down on the stove as I reached up for some cups and plates as he said,

"You think you could love me?"

The cup clattered against the plate as I almost dropped it. I held it steady as I said,

"Why do you ask me that?"

"I was curious."

I turned to him as I said,

"Why are you so needy all the sudden?"

"I'm not needy. It was just something I was thinking about."

"You haven't spoken to me in days since you suddenly felt the need to leave and not spend the night and now you ask me a question like that? You must be out of your damn mind."

He sighed as I turned back to the tea as I picked up a spoon and set it in the cup as I picked up a tea bag. I then said,

"Would you like a cup?"

"Iie...thanks anyway."

He was quiet as I made my cup. Once the water boiled and poured it into my cup, Kazuki said,

"I should go."

"If you wish."

I set the kettle back down as I said,

"When you gonnaare you going to stop this little idea of yours that something is wrong with me?"

"I don't know. When you start acting like yourself?"

I didn't say anything as he came up behind me and put his arms around me. He kissed my ear and the side of my jaw as he said,

"I'd like things to go back to how they were."

I nodded as I stirred the small porcelain cup and then sipped it as he then showed himself out. Once he left, I returned to my room, Toki sitting up having a cigarette as said,

"So?"

"So, he left."

"He still mad at you?"

"I don't think so."

I sat down as I continued drinking my tea.

My quote, unquote relationship with Kazuki was tested out. Kazuki stayed with me. He said he cared for me. I felt bad in some measure because I didn't love him, I didn't even care for him as much he did for me. All my concern and emotion was with Toki. I didn't show it, but Toki knew. Toki knew I loved him and I would continue loving him no matter who was in my life at the moment. It was almost like an upper hand he held over me, but he didn't abuse the power. I had dinner with Kazuki later in the week, the both of us slightly quiet though he spoke every now and then. As we ate one night, his cell phone rang and he excused himself to answer. Once he was done, he hung up and set his phone down by his cigarette case as I said,

"Work?"

"Yes. Taylor called. He said he found his newest associate and is ready to set up a nice casino. So he needs the Owners of the Game and Jia."

"Oh. Taylor's doing pretty well for himself."

"Yes. Well, it might mean you could go to London if Jia goes to meet Taylor's associates."

"It wouldn't be for long."

"I would probably have to go."

"Oh...the business aspect of it."

He nodded as I continued eating. He then said,

"How is London?"

"Foggy and dreary. You'll be lucky if you could see the sun for more then ten minutes."

He laughed slightly as he said,

"Seriously?"

"It's nice. It's a dark city though. Looks very lovely on the surface, but turn it over and it has it's rotten underbelly."

"Most cities are like that."

I nodded as he then said,

"If we both went to London..."

"It would be for work and only work."

"I know. I wasn't implying anything else. It would just make the trip tolerable."

I nodded as he looked at me for a moment before going back to eating. After dinner, we went for a walk, him smoking a cigarette as I walked beside him, my hands in my pockets, looking ahead as I thought about London. I didn't like it the first time I went but I didn't really have much of a choice. If Jia was to return there, then maybe I would too. As I thought about it, Kazuki said,

"Where is your mind Yuurei?"

"Thinking about London. I'll have to check with Tai. See what he tells me."

He nodded as he said,

"I'll have to check in with Jia myself. Taylor only called me because he didn't know Tai's number and because he couldn't get in touch with Jia. His phone is turned off."

"Jia does that when he's sleeping."

Kazuki nodded as he said,

"Will Tai contact him?"

"Hai. He usually does."

We were quiet again until he took my hand and said,

"I'm glad you're here."

I didn't say anything until we stopped and he turned to me, leaning down to kiss me. I felt a little odd about kissing out in the open like this, but I soon forgot and kissed him back. He then moved back, holding my hand still as he smiled slightly and then we went back on our way.

I spoke to Tai the next day, asking him about London.

"Hai, I got in contact with Taylor the other day after Furukawa let me know. His new associates seem all for opening this casino. I'll have to contact Jia soon."

"Do you think we'll have to go to London?"

"Most likely. Jia would probably want to meet these people."

"How many associates are there?"

"Three. I didn't catch any names but Taylor seems to be enthusiastic about them."

"We'll have to see what Jia says."

Tai nodded as he said,

"I don't know if I'll be going to London. Gabriel probably will."

"Does that mean Furukawa is going?"

"More then likely. The business aspect of this is that Jia has to include him on this. It's why Furukawa is running Tokyo when Jia's away."

I nodded as I said,

"Sou ka."

"I think some of the New York heads are going to be there. I'm not sure who though. It's really up to Jia."

I nodded again as I checked my watch and then said,

"You want to get some breakfast?"

"Sure."

As we got up and got our coats on, I asked,

"How is Gabriel by the way? I haven't seen him since we got back to Tokyo."

"He's better. Jun has to see him soon to remove the stitches."

I nodded as we then went on our way to have breakfast.

Over the next few days, once Tai got in contact with Jia, Jia began to discuss plans for London. He didn't really want to go, but it was business. He told Tai and myself who would be going with him.

"Aside from Toki, though I know he'll hate going, Furukawa will come, Gabriel, Aya, Akio and Mikkie."

I didn't want to question my oyabun as to why he needed me, but I did wonder. Tai then said,

"So, I'll watch Tokyo for you while you're away?"

"Hai. It shouldn't take that long though. Just meet these guys and come back. Oh shit, I'll also need the owners of the game."

Jia reached over to his phone at the side of his desk as he called Niikura to check in on Kyoto. He spoke to the oyabun there as he then asked if he could send the China Doll and Toshimasa back over to Tokyo. With that, he hung up and then said,

"They just got back into town. I feel bad about having to send them back to work but this is business. I have to start taking over London."

"You're already well on your way." Said Tai.

Jia nodded, taking out his cigarettes as he said,

"I need a lighter. Tai, remind me to get one next time okay?"

Tai gave a small laugh as he nodded. Jia then got up and dismissed us as he decided to go about his day.